Psychiatry and Psychology Commons^™

Adolescent Depression : A Review Of Theoretical Perspectives And Considerations For Assessment, Elizabeth Marie O'Neill

Graduate Research Papers

Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders shared by adolescents and adults. Thus, adolescent depression is an important area of investigation for researchers, parents, clinicians, and teachers. The purposes of this literature review are to (1) provide a critical overview of the major depressive disorder criteria for children and adolescents in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), (2) provide an overview of well-articulated major theories that have attempted to explain the cause(s) of depression in adolescents, and (3) evaluate the psychometric adequacy of those self-report measures of adolescent …

Awareness Of Deficits In Dementia Of The Alzheimer’S Type And Normal Aging, Jay D. Anderson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Past research has documented the presence of frontal lobe dysfunction in both dementia of the Alzheimer's Type (DAT) and normal aging. The purpose of the present study was to further investigate whether one particular type of frontal lobe dysfunction, unawareness of deficits or anosognosia, differs qualitatively or quantitatively when occurring in DAT versus the normal aging process. Anosognosia was investigated in three groups of subjects: individuals diagnosed with DAT (N = 25), older normal controls (N = 25), and middle-aged normal controls (N = 25). Unawareness of deficits was operationalized as the discrepancy between subjects' self-rating and that of another …

Asperger's Syndrome : A Review Of Literature, Tracy L. Gappa

Graduate Research Papers

This paper contains a review of literature on Asperger's Syndrome (AS). This disorder is characterized by deficits in social interaction skills and communication skills (such as the absence of eye contact or facial expressions). Individuals with AS also insist on routines in behaviors, and pursue a relatively narrow range of interests and activities. Etiology is thought to be multifactoral. Studies have indicated that AS may be influenced by genetic factors as well as pre-, peri-, and postnatal trauma. The disorder is also more common among boys than girls.

In this paper, the general clinical features of AS are reviewed, with …

School-Based Primary Prevention Programs For Eating Disorders, Suzanne D. Holmes

Graduate Research Papers

The primary purpose of this paper is to provide an extensive review of the literature and research related to anorexia nervosa, and to emphasize the importance of prevention programs in school settings and the role of school psychologists in the prevention and intervention process. Chapter two of this paper covers anorexia nervosa and the theories regarding its etiology, complications, co-morbidities, risk factors, and treatment. Because anorexia nervosa is a disorder which most frequently begins during adolescence, chapter three addresses the specific factors of adolescence that can lead to eating disorders.

Throughout the paper, there is an emphasis on the lack …

Childhood Physical Or Sexual Abuse As A Possible Indicator Of Subsequent Adult Anxiety Disorders, Lynn Merry Cornwell

Graduate Research Papers

In recent years, there has been a growing acceptance that childhood physical and sexual abuse lead to higher rates of psychiatric morbidity in adulthood. Childhood abuse experiences have been reported to be highly prevalent among patients with anxiety disorders. Similarly, childhood incest victims have been found to suffer from a significantly higher rate of anxiety disorders in adulthood especially agoraphobia, than a non-victimized, matched comparison group. Epidemiology studies also support a relationship between childhood abuse and the subsequent development of anxiety disorders. Two separate community surveys found that childhood sexual victimization predicted the later onset of agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and …

A Comprehensive Review Of Treatment Options For Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kristin Vanderah

Graduate Research Papers

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a disorder affecting between 3 and 5 percent of school-age children, manifests as a combination of three core skill deficits: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The deficits have been found to present children with many difficulties in both home and school settings. Thus, comprehensive treatment for individuals with ADHD is of paramount importance to their development and their academic and social experiences. The content of this paper is comprised of a review of the recent research that has been published regarding the three major theoretical orientations of ADHD interventions (pharmacological, behavioral, and multimodal treatment). All of …

Two Treatment Approaches For Young Children With Autism : Common Ground?, Jodi Suzanne Bronson

Graduate Research Papers

Students with autism display extreme difficulties with communication skills, social interactions, and often engage in restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior (DSM-IV, 1994 ). As a result of these behaviors, and the often comorbid mental retardation, students with autism have many complex educational needs.

This paper will provide a complete literature review of the historic development of autism, possible etiologies of autism, and current diagnostic criteria. In addition, specifically the literature regarding one current behavioral approach to intervention, the Lovaas Method, and one method of antecedent controlled intervention, the TEACCH model will be reviewed. Additionally, research on other successful interventions …

Peer Relations Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Joan Elizabeth Licari

Graduate Research Papers

This paper's main focus is on the peer relations of children with ADHD. Many interventions are used with children who have ADHD. One of the most widely used intervention is medication. The drug that is most associated with ADHD is methylphenidate or Ritalin. Medication, which can reduce some problematic behaviors associated with ADHD, has not been found to be very beneficial in peer relations.

Children who have ADHD are at risk for later psychopathology (mental disorders), among other problems, and thus early interventions are critical to reduce the onset of later pathologies.

This paper is intended to provide an overview …

An Analysis Of Social Cognition And Health Insurance Cost-Benefit Analysis, S. Christian Wheeler

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

There are many types of social cognition which may affect one's health insurance cost-benefit analysis. Similarly, many situational variables could influence the desirability of condition inclusion. The present study examines the effect of cost and condition type (physical or psychological) upon health insurance decision-making. In addition, the effects of Perceived Health Competence, Health Locus of Control, Belief in a Just World, and religious orientation on willingness to insure are examined. Results indicate that, of these variables, the biggest predictor of insurance desirability is the PHLC, or belief in ''powerful others" in determining one's health state. In addition, the type of …

A Survey Of Certain Food And Alcohol Related Behaviors And Selected Psychosocial Characteristics Of Adult Female Survivors Of Child Sexual Abuse, Kristine Kay Ama

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to describe certain food and alcohol related behaviors and selected psychosocial characteristics of adult female survivors of child sexual abuse. Respondents answered items regarding eating behaviors, alcohol use, psychosocial characteristics, and demographic information. Results of this study are based on the responses to 45 surveys gathered from support groups located throughout Eastern Iowa.

The offenders with the highest reported percentages included in the survey were fathers, strangers, male cousins, stepfathers, brothers, and uncles. Sexual abuse was found to occur most often between the age ranges of 6-10 and 11-15.

The demographic information regarding relationship …

Sexually Abused And Nonsexually Abused Children’S Conceptions Of Sexual Abuse, Michelle R. Brundage

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine sexually and non-sexually abused children's conceptions of what constitutes sexual abuse. Thirty sexually abused and 31 non-sexually abused children were read a narrative vignette describing a potentially sexually abusive incident and a neutral control vignette. The children were then asked a standard list of questions about general conceptions of sexual abuse, the reasons for the perpetrator's behavior, the characteristics of both victim and perpetrator, and the consequences of the abuse for both the abuser and victim. The responses were compared across sex, control and sexual abuse vignettes, and prior sexual abuse. Significant …

Short-Term Group Treatment For Women With Anorgasmia: A Comparative Evaluation Of The Use Of Films Versus The Nonuse Of Films, Kris Burling

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study utilized a 4-week group treatment format in assessing the effectiveness of the use of a film series, Becoming Orgasmic (Lo Piccolo & Heiman, 1976), in treating women with anorgasmia. Twenty-four volunteers, ages 20 to 49, were assigned to four treatment conditions: (a) combination discussion and film group, (b) discussion only group, (c) film only group, and (d) delayed treatment control group. It was hypothesized that subjects receiving treatment would report greater improvement than control subjects on dependent variables (sexual satisfaction, orgasm frequency, body image, self-esteem, sexual attitudes, and sexual experiences) as measured by pre- and post-testing on the …

The Sex Variable And Reactions To A Peer With An Orthopedic Disability By First- And Second Graders, Virginia Lynn Ruark

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Prior research has indicated that people react differently to a person with a physical disability than to a person without a disability, and that these different reactions vary with age and sex. While paper-and-pencil measures of reactions to persons with a disability have questionable validity, actual face-to-face interaction studies have yielded inconsistent results on measures of interaction time, eye contact, physical distance, and impression formation. Moreover, few studies have been conducted in which children were used as subjects. The purpose of the present study was to assess the behaviors of first- and second-grade children when reacting to peers of the …